SD Card Is Blank or Has Unsupported File System – How to Recover Data?

Read time 6 minutes

Are you encountering an error message that reads “SD card is blank or has an unsupported file system” when attempting to access your SD card on various devices? Depending on the device, you might see variations of this error such as “SD Card Is Blank or Has Unsupported File System” or “SD card is damaged, try reformatting it” or similar phrasings, but they all indicate the same issue.

If you come across this error, the subsequent prompt you’ll encounter is, “Are you sure you want to format the SD card?” Chances are, you’d prefer not to format it, so avoid granting permission for that action.

This problem can manifest on any device where you use your SD card, whether it’s a mobile phone, PC, laptop, or USB drive. It’s important to note that this error doesn’t necessarily mean your SD card is truly empty or devoid of data; it can arise due to a variety of underlying reasons.

What causes the ‘SD card is blank or has unsupported file system’ issue?

This error occurs when you have performed some operations either on your SD card or on your mobile phone, recently. So, let’s know the reasons of its occurrence:

• You might have used SD card on a virus infected device
• Bad sectors in SD card
• Improper insertion and ejection of SD card in devices
• Frequent use of SD card on multiple devices
• Not removing SD card from PC or Laptops without using “Safely Remove” feature
• Corruption in SD card

If you’ve been engaging in any of the activities mentioned earlier, it’s essential to recognize the factors that have contributed to this error. Once you’ve identified them, please ensure that you carry out these tasks securely in the future, exercising extra caution.

Since there are various factors contributing to this error, there exist multiple reliable solutions to rectify it. In the following discussion, we will highlight a few of these dependable remedies. Let’s begin!

• Make hidden files, folders, and drivers visible

In order to deal with the blank SD card issue, you can try making the hidden files visible. For, this you need to follow the steps mentioned-below:

1. First, you will need to connect the SD card to your PC or Laptop with the help of a card reader.
2. Now, go to the Control Panel on your system.
3. In the Control Panel, look for the Program option.
4. In the Program’s window, look for the Appearance and Personalization tab and click on it.
5. An Appearance and Personalization window will open, there you need to go to the File Explorer Options.
6. As you click on it, a File Explorer Options dialogue box will open. There try to locate Show hidden files, and folders option and check the box next to it.
7. Once done, click on Apply and then click on OK to finalize your selection.

Upon completing the aforementioned procedure, your SD card should no longer appear empty, and it should display all the data. If your SD card still remains blank, it is not due to the process described above.

• Run chksk

The command prompt is a valuable resource that can yield satisfactory results. Ensure that your SD card is connected to your device and then proceed with the following steps:

1. In the search box of the Windows, type Command and a Command Prompt option will be displayed to you.
2. Now make a right click on the Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator from the options.
3. As the Administrator window opens type chkdsk G: /f (here G is the drive letter for SD card, please change it as per your drive letter) and hit Enter.

Once it is all done and finished, check if the issue with your SD card is fixed or not.

• Recover Data with a Windows Data Recovery Tool

If you’ve tried the suggested methods and the problem persists without resolution, consider using a Windows data recovery tool. One such reliable option is Kerne for Windows Data Recovery Tool. This tool is adept at resolving errors like the one you’re facing, often linked to SD card corruption. It can effectively repair corrupted partitions and other external devices connected to your system. Simply connect the problematic SD card, run the tool, and follow the provided instructions to rectify the issue. This should eliminate the error. You can also Recover 2 GB data free sing the tool’s free version. For larger data recovery needs, consider upgrading to the premium version.

Conclusion:

In this blog post, we have explored the issue of encountering the error message “SD card is blank or has an unsupported file system.” We’ve delved into the reasons behind this error and outlined effective steps to resolve it. We strongly advise against attempting any dubious methods, as they may result in data loss. If you’ve already tried such methods and experienced data loss, you can use Kernel for Windows Data Recovery to recover all the lost data from your SD card.